inconceivable

1 of 2

adjective

in·​con·​ceiv·​able ˌin-kən-ˈsē-və-bəl 

: not conceivable: such as

a

: unbelievable

It's inconceivable they survived the crash.

b

: impossible to comprehend

… a work of inconceivable difficulty and labour …

—Mary W. Shelley

inconceivability

ˌin-kən-ˌsē-və-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

inconceivableness

ˌin-kən-ˈsē-və-bəl-nəs 

noun

inconceivably

ˌin-kən-ˈsē-və-blē 

adverb

inconceivability

2 of 2

noun

in·​conceivability ¦in+ 

1

: the quality or state of being inconceivable

2

: something inconceivable

Synonyms of inconceivable

Adjective

• incredible
• incredulous
• unlikely
• impossible
• unthinkable
• unimaginable
• unbelievable

Examples of inconceivable in a Sentence

Adjective

The fire caused an inconceivable amount of damage.

After coming this far, to quit now would be inconceivable.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The self-loathing that burns in the creators, who are willing to harm their homeland just to get applause from antisemites around the world, is inconceivable and constitutes a betrayal of the state. — Tom Tapp, Deadline, 13 Sep. 2026

The psycho fanatics have a microphone now, which was inconceivable 20 years ago. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 10 Sep. 2026

When Emmanuel Macron revived the idea, in 2018, a curator at the Bayeux Museum insisted that moving the frankly archeological textile was, conservationally speaking, inconceivable. — John Phipps, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026

Beyond the inconceivable mishap, the Huskers looked reactive and a step slow on defense for the entire first quarter. — Mitch Sherman, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1624, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for inconceivable

• achievable
• believable
• conceivable
• perceivable
• receivable
• retrievable
• irretrievable
• unbelievable

Kids Definition

inconceivable

adjective

in·​con·​ceiv·​able ˌin-kən-ˈsē-və-bəl 

: impossible to imagine or believe

inconceivably

-blē 

adverb